Dallas Texans Claim Third Place and Finish Development Academy Season Undefeated

NewsJul 15, 2011

MILWAUKEE (July 15, 2011) – Dallas Texans completed a remarkable undefeated season and finished in third place at Development Academy Finals Week by scoring a dramatic stoppage time goal and defeating CASL Chelsea FC Academy in a penalty shootout. The late comeback ended the Texans season with a 16-0-13 overall record.

CASL Chelsea FC appeared to have the game in hand with a two-goal lead in the 68th minute, but the Dallas Texans cut the lead to one two minutes later and netted the equalizer in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. Logan Paussa and Cooper Vandermaas-Peeler both tallied for CASL, while Clint Ritter and Robert Liberatore scored for the Dallas Texans.

The game started out at a high pace and was mostly played in the midfield as both teams battled competitively but struggled to put together dangerous attacking sequences.

CASL Chelsea FC scored first in the 21st minute, with Paussa converting an indirect free kick inside the penalty area. CASL goalkeeper Alex Sloan picked up the ball after receiving a pass from his defender and the referee whistled for a foul eight yards from goal. With the defenders stacked on the goal line, Paussa received a tap pass and struck a low driven ball past the wall and a helpless Sloan.

The pace of the game picked up in the second half and both teams had several dangerous opportunities. Halftime substitute Caleb Richardson injected life into the Texans attack and nearly scored in the 49th minute after getting on the end of a cross, but his sliding shot went high over the crossbar. Minutes later, he carried the ball into the box and took a hard shot that forced CASL goalkeeper Sloan into a good save at the near post.

In the 68th minute, CASL doubled their lead on another set piece when Vandermaas-Peeler poked in a free kick from the touchline as it headed toward the far post. Just two minutes later, the Texans cut into the lead via an own goal. A cross that was lofted into the box was headed in the wrong direction by Liberatore up and over his ‘keeper and into the net.

With just seconds remaining and everyone pushing forward looking for an equalizer, Richardson earned a dangerous free kick 19 yards from goal. Jacob VanCampernolle feinted as if he would strike, then Ritter stepped up and hit a hard shot that deflected off the outstretched leg of Mike Paye and past the wall to tie the game in the dying moments.

The game went straight to a penalty shootout, with five shooters stepping up for each team. After Dallas Texans missed their first shot, CASL Chelsea seemed poised to win as Monbo Bokar and John Ray converted their takes. Paussa, who scored earlier in the match, missed high and Trevor Gonzalez made his shot to knot it at two. After Vandermaas-Peeler and Aaron Simmons converted, Dallas goalkeeper Nicholas Peterick came up with a huge save and Jake Douglas converted his kick to give Dallas Texans the shootout win and a third-place finish at Finals Week.